Zhao Jingping never expected that his brother-in-law would suddenly run back. He was shocked and scared. His face, which was red from the spicy pepper water, instantly lost all color and turned pale, with cold sweat on his forehead.
"Nan, Nanfeng..." His collar was grabbed by Xie Nanfeng, and he was having trouble breathing. He trembled and said, "I'm here to celebrate my mother's birthday."
"Bah! Who is your mother? Stop pretending to be such a disgusting person!" Xie Nanfeng raised his eyebrows and spat.
Zhao Jingping's legs were shaking, and he said awkwardly: "A son-in-law is half a son. You are not at home, so it is my duty to show my filial piety..."
"How dare you say that? If you hadn't killed my sister, how could my mother be left alone?" Xie Nanfeng said angrily. Thinking of his sister, he was so angry that he punched Zhao Jingping in the face.
He has been practicing martial arts since he was young, and recently he has been training in the military camp with his father. His hands are incredibly strong, and he punched Zhao Jingping so hard that his nose bled.
Zhao Jingping screamed and dodged, but his collar was held in Xie Nanfeng's hand and he couldn't dodge no matter how hard he tried. After a few punches, he was beaten black and blue.
The maids all stood aside and watched, wanting to clap and cheer.
Jixiang was the only maid in the Marquis's mansion. Although she was not responsible for serving Zhao Jingping, she could not bear to watch him get beaten. She did not dare to pull him away, so she had to run to the back to call Aunt Yao.
Madam Yao was watching the young master suckling his mother's milk, and her heart softened. When she heard that her young master had beaten Zhao Jingping, she was shocked at first, and then said, "What should we do? When our young master gets angry, no one can control him except the lady. You should run quickly and go to the garden to find the lady. The nurse and I will stay here to watch over the young master, so that he won't be frightened."
Jixiang was not stupid and could clearly hear that she was trying to shirk responsibility. She was just like those girls who were watching the fun and hoped that Master Nanfeng would beat the Crown Prince to death.
In desperation, Jixiang had to run out to find Mrs. Xie.
But the general's mansion was no smaller than the marquis's mansion, and she was not familiar with the terrain, so she had no idea where to look and could only search aimlessly.
At this time, Mrs. Xie was reminiscing about the past with her three maids in the courtyard before Xie Nanjia got married.
There are few people in the general's mansion. Xie Zhanting has no concubines and only two children, so everyone's residence is built very spacious, larger than the residence of an ordinary family.
Xie Nanjia looked at the courtyard where she had lived for sixteen years, and then thought about her current situation, and couldn't help but feel mixed emotions.
In the past, her mother often lamented that the most heartbreaking thing was that things and people had changed. She didn’t understand, but now she finally understood, but she could never go back.
When they walked to the back garden, they were greeted by a faint fragrance. Without even looking, Xie Nanjia knew that the cymbidium orchids she had planted by the wall had bloomed.
She couldn't help but run over, accurately found the location of the orchids, and squatted down to observe them carefully.
Mrs. Xie was surprised and asked, "How did she know it was Huilanxiang and found it so quickly?"
Lvliu also felt strange: "Yes, she has a very good nose. I helped the young lady plant that flower, and I have forgotten where it is."
Hualou said, "There are also a few orchids in the young master's Sijin Courtyard. They were brought by the young lady when she got married, and were secretly given to Qin Wanru by Zhao Jingping. The young lady was angry for a long time because of this. Fortunately, Qin Wanru was later driven away, and the old lady decided to give the courtyard to the young master. The flowers were returned to their original owner. Xiu'er likes orchids very much and takes a look at them every time she goes back."
"So that's how it is. She must be familiar with the scent and followed it to find us," said Mrs. Xie.
Since Hualou mentioned Zhao Jingping and Qin Wanru, Lvliu took the opportunity to tell Mrs. Xie the purpose of her visit today.
Upon hearing this, Madam Xie's face darkened and she said angrily, "Qin told him to observe mourning for three years. Now that Xiu'er's body is still warm, he actually wants to remarry. Is he still a human being?"
"If he were a human being, he wouldn't have secretly made my cousin pregnant." Hualou was also very angry. "Such a despicable and shameless person is actually the father of our little master. I feel ashamed for the little master. And that Qin Wanru, in order to stay in the Marquis's mansion, she forced the wet nurse to take medicine, causing the little master to spit up milk every day. How can we let such a person marry in and be the little master's stepmother!"
Mrs. Xie had no idea about this and was shocked when she heard it. She hurriedly asked what was going on in Hualou.
Hualou then told her everything that happened that day, and then said, "This matter was all thanks to Xiu'er. If she hadn't reminded the old lady, no one would have thought of other ways. Afterwards, it was she who recommended me to the old lady, and I was transferred to serve the young master."
Although the incident happened a long time ago and the young master is safe and sound, Madam Xie still felt a chill down her spine, which made her more resolute: "I will never allow such a vicious woman to get close to my grandson again. She is not qualified to be my grandson's mother, not even as a stepmother!"
After saying that, he waved to Xie Nanjia who was watching the flowers over there, took off a white jade lotus bracelet from his wrist, took her hand and put it on her, and said softly: "You are a good child, thank you for protecting the young master, and I will ask you to take care of me in the future."
Xie Nanjia's mother held her hand, and she felt the warmth from her mother's body. She almost couldn't hold back her tears. Fortunately, she had just picked an orchid and smiled, "Madam gave me such a precious bracelet. I have no way to repay you. I will borrow a flower to offer to you and let you wear this orchid!"
Mrs. Xie nodded with a smile, and Xie Nanjia gently put the flower in her bun.
Madam Xie lowered her body slightly to cooperate with her, and sighed softly, "In the past, my Xiu'er often picked flowers for me to wear. Since she left, I haven't worn flowers for a long time."
Hualou and Lvliu turned their heads away and wiped their tears.
Xie Nanjia could only bear it and said to her mother: "Madam, in fact, the purpose of my coming here today is the same as Lvliu's, I want to persuade you to agree to let the prince marry again."
"What did you say?" Mrs. Xie asked in surprise, "You are here to persuade me too, why?"
Xie Nanjia said hurriedly, "Madam, please don't be anxious. Let me tell you slowly. Qin Wanru is already pregnant. Even if this matter is brought to the emperor, the only solution is to let the prince marry her. Besides, even if he doesn't marry Qin Wanru, the prince can't remain single for life. No matter who he marries, she will be a stepmother to the young master. Therefore, I think that since the initiative is in your hands now, and Qin has to be humble to you, you might as well put forward a few conditions in exchange with her. If she can do it, you agree, and if she can't, you don't agree."
Mrs. Xie was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion: "What conditions can I propose?"
Xie Nanjia smiled and said, "Anything is fine. For example, only the young master can inherit the throne, the son of the second wife cannot pursue a career in government, cannot share the family property, the bride cannot wear red, etc. You can say whatever you think makes you angry. It doesn't matter what you say."
When she said this, before Madam Xie could do anything, Hualou clapped her hands first: "Yes, yes, yes, isn't that how she treated the Second Young Master in the first place? Madam, just use this to deal with her, so that she can also feel the Second Young Master's frustration. There are other things, no matter if they are reasonable or not, it's better to mention a hundred or eighty of them, so that she won't be angry to death!"
Luliu also thought this was a good idea. She had already drunk the sterilization soup and would not have children anyway. Whether she became the Crown Prince's wife or not, the young master would be her only support in the future. She naturally hoped that the lady could gain more benefits for the young master. Even if she had to pass the throne to the young master now, she would agree with it.
This Xiu'er had endless ideas for playing tricks on people. She was completely convinced.
Madam Xie pondered over Xie Nanjia's words and felt that what she said made sense. Since no one could stop Qin Wanru from getting married with a child, she might as well take the opportunity to gain some benefits for her grandson, and at the same time punish Qin to vent her anger. It would also let the people in the Marquis' Mansion know that the General's Mansion would always be the young master's most powerful backer.
"Okay, let's do as you say. I'll make a list later and make sure she's skinned alive!" said Mrs. Xie.
Seeing that her mother had figured it out, Xie Nanjia felt relieved and said with a smile, "Madam, you are right to think so. You should be more open-minded about this marriage. Things are unpredictable. Those who are destined to have children may not be able to give birth. Who knows who will be the next one to have a difficult birth!"
Lu Liu was shocked when she heard this and looked at Xie Nanjia suddenly.
This girl, she wouldn't...
"Thank you, Madam. I finally found you!" Jixiang ran in breathlessly, interrupting Lvliu's thoughts. "Young Master Nanfeng suddenly returned home and beat up my young master. Madam, please go back and take a look!"
"What, Nanfeng is back?" Mrs. Xie was so surprised that she automatically ignored the second half of the sentence.
"The young master must have rushed back overnight to spend his wife's birthday with her." Lvliu Hualou also became happy and also didn't care about the prince being beaten.
"I guess so. Let's go back and take a look." Mrs. Xie smiled happily.
Lvliu and Hualou each supported her and walked back. Xie Nanjia followed beside them, also eager to see her brother.
This boy has a conscience. He knows that his mother is lonely at home, so he rushes back to accompany her. It would be better if his father could come back with him, so that their family can be reunited.
Jixiang was sweating profusely while running, feeling extremely anxious. He didn't expect that these people didn't take the prince seriously at all. They kept talking about Young Master Nanfeng all the way. No one took the prince being beaten seriously. Plus, Madam Xie was old, and although she said they had to go back quickly, their speed was actually no different from taking a walk, which was really frustrating.
But no matter how anxious she was, she couldn't let Mrs. Xie run with her. It would be impolite and useless for her to walk first. She could only walk slowly at their pace.
After finally getting to the place, I walked in and saw that Young Master Nanfeng had finished the fight and was holding the little boy and kissing him again and again. The wet nurse and Nanny Yao were standing on either side, while the Young Master was sitting there with a bruised face and nose, and his appearance was almost unrecognizable.
When Xie Nanjia and the others saw how embarrassed Zhao Jingping looked, they almost couldn't help laughing.
When Xie Nanfeng saw them coming in, he held his little nephew in his arms and came forward, calling out happily, "Mom, I'm back!"
"Birthdays come every year, why do you come all the way back?" Mrs. Xie said, but her face was as bright as a flower, and she tapped the child's nose casually, "This child is not shy, he lets anyone hold him."
"I am his uncle, how could he be shy with me?" Xie Nanfeng taught the child with a smile, "Come on, call me uncle, uncle..."
The child grinned at him, and suddenly without warning peed all over him.
Xie Nanfeng screamed, and Madam Xie hurriedly said, "Don't scream, don't scream, let him finish peeing, don't scare him back, you have to change clothes anyway."
Xie Nanfeng: "... you have a grandson and you have forgotten your son!"
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Only Zhao Jingping sat there dejectedly, not daring to say a word, feeling very sad inside.
Xie Nanfeng waited until the child finished peeing, then handed him to his mother and went to wash and change clothes. Before leaving, he found Xie Nanjia and called out in surprise, "Xiu'er, you're here too?"
After saying that, he rubbed her head.
Xie Nanjia: “…”
Boy, you have no respect for your elders!
Madam Xie looked at Nanny Yao again and confirmed her previous guess.
She sat back in the main seat with the child in her arms, then she glanced at Zhao Jingping casually and asked in surprise, "What's wrong with the prince's face?"
Except for Jixiang and the wet nurse, everyone in the room covered their mouths and laughed.
Zhao Jingping stood up and replied dejectedly: "Nanfeng attacked me as soon as he came in. I don't know how I offended him."
"Oh, was it the south wind that hit him?" Mrs. Xie frowned and said, "This child is getting wilder and wilder. I'll talk to him later."
Zhao Jingping: “…”
Tell me, my mother-in-law is too protective of her child after beating me like this.
In the end, Lvliu couldn't bear it, so she called him to the back, brought hot water to wash him, covered him with a hot towel and steamed him for a while, then applied some anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointment, and his face finally looked presentable.
Seeing that he was dejected, Lvliu said to him, "I have good news for you. I have just told my wife about your marriage, and she has agreed."
"Really?" Zhao Jingping was immediately delighted, holding her hand and saying, "That's great. I thought it would take a lot of effort, but it's so easy. Madam, you are really capable."
"Be honest." Lvliu rolled her eyes at him and pulled her hand back. "It's not that simple. Madam has conditions."
"What conditions?" Zhao Jingping asked.
"I don't know either. Madam will write it on a list and ask you to take it back." Lu Liu said.
"Write it on a list? How many conditions does she have that she has to make a list?" Zhao Jingping asked in surprise.
"Your mother will have to agree to whatever you ask, otherwise you can forget about getting married." Lvliu sneered, "You tell me yourself, there is no aunt like me in the world, who has tried so hard to help her husband find a wife. When the new wife comes home, don't forget my kindness."
"No, don't worry." Zhao Jingping vowed, "I will always remember your kindness to me. Even if I marry ten more women, you are still my favorite. If I tell a lie, I will be struck by lightning."
"You want to marry ten more women!" Lvliu twisted his ear and said, "God can't hear you, otherwise he would have chopped you into ashes long ago."
Zhao Jingping grinned and said, "It hurts, it hurts, my lady, I just got beaten, please go easy on me!"
"You deserve it!" Lvliu sneered.
…
Mrs. Xie was in a good mood because of the arrival of her grandson. She asked someone to prepare a large table of dishes to entertain the guests at noon. Jixiang and the wet nurse refused to sit at the table no matter what, so Mrs. Xie ordered a few maids and servants to accompany them to dine elsewhere.
Zhao Jingping was afraid of Xie Nanfeng, and he was trembling with fear the whole time, not daring to eat a few bites of the food.
In fact, Xie Nanfeng ignored him and kept talking to Mrs. Xie about the hunting grounds. Because Xie Nanjia had also been to the hunting grounds, he would always say "If you don't believe me, ask Xiu'er" before whatever he said.
Seeing that his mother was listening with great interest, Xie Nanjia started to chat with him to cheer his mother up.
Mrs. Xie hasn't been this happy for a long time since her daughter left. Xie Nanjia and Xie Nanfeng talked naturally and casually, making her feel as if she had returned to the time when her daughter was not married.
The general's mansion had a small population, no elders, and no concubines, so they never followed the rules of not talking while eating or not talking while sleeping. Every time they had a meal, the family would always eat and chat together, and they were very happy. The sister and brother talked about everything just like they do now.
Not only Madam Xie, but even Madam Yao felt very emotional. It had been a long time since the General's Mansion had such a cheerful dining atmosphere.
It would be even better if the general was here too.
Hualou and Lvliu had the same feeling. The conversation between Xiu'er and Gongzi made them distracted more than once, recalling the past.
Compared to them, Xie Nanfeng himself felt even stronger. He couldn't help but think of what his father said to him after he saw Xiu'er playing the pot-tossing game in the camp.
His father said that Xiu'er was too much like his sister. If it weren't for the difference in appearance and age, he would almost suspect that his sister was not dead. He even thought absurdly that Xiu'er might be his sister's reincarnation, and told him to find an opportunity to get close to Xiu'er and find out what she had to say.
With this in mind, after the meal, he suggested to Xie Nanjia: "I saw that you are proficient in riding in the paddock. My family has a large stable with more than a dozen good horses. Why don't I take you to see it?"
Xie Nanjia hesitated and said that he didn't know when the prince would leave for home.
Xie Nanfeng said: "No matter what he does, if he wants to leave, just leave. I will take you back later."
Zhao Jingping: “…”
Madam Xie said hurriedly, "I still have something to discuss with the prince. You guys go and have fun. It won't be too late to leave until I finish talking to the prince."
Xie Nanfeng then took Xie Nanjia away.
Xie Nanjia was pulled so hard that she stumbled. She said, "Walk slowly. You can't walk too fast after eating. It's bad for your stomach."
Xie Nanfeng tightened his grip and looked sideways at her.
This is what my sister says every day, and Xiu'er said it word for word.
Xie Nanjia also realized this and asked him hurriedly: "Are you going back to the enclosure today?"
"No." Xie Nanfeng said, "The main force will return to Beijing the day after tomorrow, and my father told me not to go."
"Are you going back to Beijing so soon?" Xie Nanjia was surprised for a moment, then said, "It's good to come back. The weather is getting colder and the general's headache can't be affected by the cold."
"How do you know the general has a headache?" Xie Nanfeng asked.
"I heard it from Hualou." Xie Nanjia said.
Xie Nanfeng looked at her with that scrutinizing look again.
As they were talking, they arrived at the stable. Two servants in charge of horse care were feeding hay to the horses. A dozen horses were eating happily around the trough. When Xie Nanfeng whistled, they immediately stopped eating and raised their hooves and neighed, becoming very restless, as if they had seen their relatives.
Only the mare at the innermost part, whose body was jet black and whose hooves were snow-white, lowered her head, as if she heard nothing.
Stepping on snow! My stepping on snow! Xie Nanjia’s nose felt sore and she almost cried out in excitement.
"Come in and see." Xie Nanfeng pulled her into the stable and introduced each horse to her one by one.
In fact, Xie Nanjia knew them all without his introduction. Although her horse was Taxue, she had ridden every one of them.
She stroked her hand across the forehead of each horse, and memories of the past came to her mind.
Finally, she came to Taxue and wanted to reach out to touch it, but Taxue cried angrily and refused to let her touch it.
"This is my sister's horse, named Taxue, and she doesn't like strangers touching it." Xie Nanfeng said.
Xie Nanjia nodded and called the horse softly: "Take the snow, take the snow..." While calling, she stroked its ears with her hand.
The horse shook its head twice, and slowly calmed down. It no longer resisted her touch, and even licked the palm of her hand with its tongue. Its big eyes with long eyelashes flickered, and were gradually covered with a layer of tears.
Xie Nanjia couldn't help but feel her eyes blurry.
The servant who was feeding the horses widened his eyes in surprise. Taxue had never licked anyone except the eldest lady. How did this little girl do it
Xie Nanfeng's feeling in his heart became stronger and stronger, and he blurted out, "Sister!"
"Hmm?" Xie Nanjia subconsciously turned around and looked at him.
(End of this chapter)